🔍 Key Concepts

• Points of sail – especially the difference between a beam reach and close-hauled • How apparent wind direction changes when a boat turns toward the true wind • What happens to heel, speed, and leeway (side slip) as you sail closer to the wind

💭 Think About

• Visualize a sailboat on a beam reach, then slowly turning its bow closer to the wind. What happens to the wind you feel on deck – does it seem to come more from ahead or from the side? • As the boat heads up, think about the balance between lift from the sails, side force on the keel, and resistance in the water. Which one of the listed effects is most immediate and consistent as you change heading? • Consider which of the four options is ALWAYS true in that maneuver, not just sometimes true depending on boat type, sea state, or how well you steer.

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of apparent wind vs. true wind before choosing • Decide whether heeling moment, speed, and side slip will always change the same way on every sailboat when heading up, or if some may vary with conditions • Ask yourself: which option describes a change in wind geometry rather than boat performance, and is that change guaranteed when heading from beam reach to close-hauled?